Saturday, April 26, 2008

Attendees at the SMC³ 2008 Summer Conference will investigate the latest trends and developments emerging in the domestic and global supply chain. The education-and-networking packed conference is scheduled to take place June 25-27 at the Seaport Hotel in Boston, Mass.

The conference, themed “The New Supply Chain: Global Trends, Technology and Infrastructure,” will highlight green technology, infrastructure developments, political implications and more of today’s most pressing topics. Specialized conference sessions and subject matter experts have been chosen to inspire forward thinking by exploring methods for shippers, carriers and supply chain partners to adapt and grow their businesses in the next era of technology, policy and economic change.

A special feature session on greening the supply chain will present innovative methods for organizations to reduce their carbon footprint while increasing efficiency and reducing costs. The presentation will take an in-depth look at emerging green technologies, methods that have been most successful for other organizations and ways to increase profitability through reducing consumption.

The political climate is heating up as the United States prepares to elect a new President. Shining a spotlight on the 2008 elections, SMC³ will host a remarkably accurate political forecaster, Larry Sabato, Ph.D., who will explore what-if scenarios for the different political contests, discuss the priorities of each candidate for the nation and its transportation infrastructure, and give his predictions of what is likely to happen in the pending election.

SMC³’s geopolitical update speakers will detail the most current economic trends, energy costs, political factors and legislative enactments that affect the transportation industry. Speakers include transportation attorney John R. Bagileo, principal, The Law Office of John R. Bagileo; Michael J. Economides, Ph.D., professor, Cullen College of Engineering, University of Houston; and economic forecaster Donald Ratajczak, Ph.D.

Individuals representing every area of the transportation industry, as well as service providers and customers, regularly attend SMC³ conferences. This well-proportioned industry representation offers an ideal setting for collaborating and networking with all members in the industry.

“SMC³ continues to be one of the best conference values in the country; combining thoughtful educational programs, great networking opportunities and fun,” said Ron Reighter, vice president of global trade solutions, Sun Trust Bank, Inc., of his 2007 Summer Conference experience.

“This conference ranks as one of the best I’ve attended. The information received was valuable and informative. I appreciate the focus on the global supply chain and economy,” said Damon Cooner, supply chain manager, Best Manufacturing Group.

To register for the SMC³ 2008 Summer Conference or for more information regarding SMC³ products, services and educational offerings, visit www.smc3.com or call 800-845-8090.

Friday, April 25, 2008

Atlanta's most talented interactive marketing professionals will be recognized by their peers at the Atlanta Interactive Marketing Association's AiMA Awards 2008 ceremony to be held Thursday, May 1, 2008 at the new W Hotel in Midtown. AiMA Awards 2008 is the area's first awards program dedicated exclusively to interactive marketing.

AiMA Awards 2008 will be hosted by Veronica De La Cruz, Internet correspondent for CNN's flagship morning news program, American Morning. Based in New York, De La Cruz reports on the hottest news from online sources and blogs and guides.

This year, AiMA will be honoring talent in a variety of categories, including business-to-business, customer acquisition, integrated/cross channel marketing, online brand experience and online marketing strategy. AiMA will also be presenting the first Vanguard Award for the best use of emerging media and a Best-in Show award for the overall best submission. A panel of 21 judges from across the country, all distinguished interactive thinkers from businesses and higher education institutions, will be evaluating submissions from 25 finalists.

"The interactive talent in Atlanta rivals that of any other market in the country and AiMA is proud to recognize the best from our community," said AiMA President Laura Spaugh. "It is particularly exciting to have representation from both agencies and corporate teams among our finalists. We look forward to announcing this year's winners and to paying tribute to the all of the amazing interactive work being done in the area."

The event will be held at the new W Hotel in Midtown and will feature food, cocktails and fabulous music spun by local DJs and a variety of other "technoglam" surprises. For more information, please visit the 2008 AiMA Awards Web site at http://www.aimaawards.com, or contact: Julia Brown, Director, Business Development, WhittmanHart at 770-391-9228 x233 or via email: jbrown@whittmanhart.com

Thursday, April 24, 2008

The Financial Planning Association of Georgia has awarded Chris Dardaman with its HONORS Award at the association’s Regional Conference.

The HONORS award is given to people who have made a significant contribution to the Financial Planning profession while exhibiting high ethical standards, placing their clients' interests first and having a positive impact on both clients and professional colleagues.

“The Financial Planning Association of Georgia developed the HONORS Award to recognize financial planning professionals who act as role models to us all,” said Dave Polstra, a founding partner of Brightworth. “Chris works tirelessly to better the lives of the people around him, particularly his clients and peers in the financial services industry. We are extremely proud of his accomplishment.”

The Financial Planning Association of Georgia has nearly 800 members located throughout Georgia who specialize in the many aspects of financial planning, including investment planning, estate planning, retirement plans, and education funding.

Brightworth (www.brightworth.com) is an independent, fee-only wealth management firm that serves entrepreneurs and high net worth families and individuals. The firm and its partners have been nationally ranked as one of Worth Magazine’s 100 Most Exclusive Wealth Advisors, Mutual Funds magazine’s 100 Top Advisors, Wealth Manager magazine’s Top 150 Wealth Managers and Barron’s Indie 100 list of top independent financial advisors, and are members of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA).

The average divorce proceedings take one year, with the spouses spending much of that time learning about the financial aspects and terminology of the separation. A Certified Divorce Financial Analyst is trained to give their clients a clearer view of their financial future, and empower them to make educated financial decisions throughout the proceedings. This includes forecasting the long-term effects of the divorce settlement in areas such as life and health insurance, cost of living increases, retirement needs and tax liabilities.

“Families who are working through a divorce have unique challenges that must be dealt with carefully.” said Alan Gotthardt, President of Brightworth. “Annika has specialized expertise in navigating the maze of financial issues so that clients understand their options and can make wise decisions.”

Ferris has a Masters degree in Personal Financial Planning from Georgia State University and graduated with honors from the University of Colorado with degrees in Business Administration-Information Technology and Biology. She is a member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA), the Financial Planning Association and the Atlanta Estate Planning Council, and has been published in several publications including the Journal for Retirement Planning and Atlanta Life Magazine.

Brightworth (www.brightworth.com) is an independent, fee-only wealth management firm that serves entrepreneurs and high net worth families and individuals. The firm and its partners have been nationally ranked as one of Worth Magazine’s 100 Most Exclusive Wealth Advisors, Mutual Funds magazine’s 100 Top Advisors, Wealth Manager magazine’s Top 150 Wealth Managers and Barron’s Indie 100 list of top independent financial advisors, and are members of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA).

Super Lawyers is a guide compiled by Law & Politics Magazine that honors exceptional attorneys, representing a wide range of practice areas, firm sizes and geographic locations. Candidates are nominated by peers in their state or region and evaluated by an expert panel system. Only 5% of the lawyers in each state or region are named in Super Lawyers. Stites & Harbison has a total of 43 attorneys listed in Super Lawyers.

About Stites & HarbisonStites & Harbison, PLLC, is a regional business and litigation firm with attorneys in Alexandria, Va.; Atlanta; Jeffersonville, Ind.; Louisville, Frankfort and Lexington, Ky.; and Nashville and Franklin, Tenn. Tracing its origins to 1832, Stites & Harbison is one of the oldest law practices in the nation and among the largest law firms in the Southeast. Sixty-three Stites & Harbison lawyers are named in the current edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, and nearly 70 percent of all members and counsel to the firm are AV®-rated in the current Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory®. Twenty-two of the firm’s attorneys are listed in the current edition of Chambers USA and 43 attorneys are listed in the current Super Lawyers magazine.

Monday, April 21, 2008

Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue announced in March that Kia supplier DAEHAN Solution will locate a manufacturing facility in Harris County. The automotive components manufacturer is expected to create 300 jobs and invest $35 million in its new site. Kia and its other suppliers have announced more than 5,000 jobs in Georgia.

“DAEHAN Solution’s decision to locate in Georgia means that top-tier Kia suppliers are creating more than 2,300 jobs,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “I am proud that Kia’s decision to choose Georgia continues to bring interest and investment to our state.”

Headquartered in Korea, DAEHAN Solution plans to build a 160,000-square-foot facility on 30 acres at the Northwest Harris Business Park in Harris County. When operational, the facility will supply NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) system engineering and interior components for Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia plant in West Point.

“DAEHAN Solution is looking forward to continuing the partnership with the state of Georgia and Harris County for mutual prosperity,” said DAEHAN Solution Chairman Hoe-Hyun Kwon. “We are very excited about this project in the Northwest Harris Business Park and plan to begin the construction process as soon as possible.”

“We are proud to welcome DAEHAN Solution to Harris County,” said Harry Lange, Harris County Commission Chairman. “Their new facility will be a terrific addition to our growing stable of Kia suppliers here in Harris County, and I look forward to them becoming a great corporate citizen.”

DAEHAN Solution is a leading manufacturer of automotive components and a key supplier of NVH system engineering in Korea. The company is committed to exceeding customer expectations with award-winning products and services through innovation and efficiency. The company has a long history as one of the top suppliers to Kia and Hyundai worldwide.Mark Lytle was project manager for Georgia Department of Economic Development.---www.FayetteFrontPage.comFayette Front PageCommunity News You Can UseFayetteville, Peachtree City, Tyrone---

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Lodgian, Inc. (AMEX: LGN), one of the nation’s largest independent owners and operators of full-service hotels, announced today that its Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of an additional $10 million of its common stock over a period ending no later than April 15, 2009. This repurchase program follows a $30 million repurchase program announced in August 2007. Under that program, the company repurchased approximately 2.8 million shares at an average price of $10.62 per share, fulfilling that authority on April 7, 2008.

Any purchases under Lodgian, Inc.’s stock repurchase program may be made, from time to time, in the open market, through block trades or otherwise, including pursuant to a trading plan under Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Depending on share price, market conditions, Lodgian’s cash requirements, and other factors, these purchases may be commenced or suspended at any time or from time to time without prior notice.

Repurchased shares will be held as treasury stock, and will be available for use in connection with the company’s stock option plans and other compensation programs, or for other corporate purposes as determined by the company’s board of directors. As of April 11, 2008, the company had 21,975,210 shares of common stock outstanding.

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements

Except for the historical information and discussion contained herein, this press release may constitute forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, related to Lodgian’s operations that are based on management’s current expectations, estimates and projections. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results could differ materially. The words “guidance,” “may,” “should,” “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “project,” “estimate,” “plan,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

Certain factors are not within the company’s control and readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. These statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the company’s ability to generate sufficient working capital from operations, the timing and amount of receipt of insurance proceeds, the marketability of the company’s assets held for sale, the company’s ability to refinance its debt obligations in the ordinary course of business, the company’s ability to successfully pursue alternative uses for certain of its properties, the realization of expected improvements in results of operations, the absence of industry-wide disruptions, and other risks detailed from time to time in the company’s filing with the SEC, including under the heading “Risk Factors” in Lodgian’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which the statement is made. The company undertakes no obligations to update events to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes to future results over time.

About Lodgian, Inc.

Lodgian is one of the largest independent owners and operators of full-service hotels in the United States. The company currently manages a portfolio of 46 hotels with 8,432 rooms located in 24 states and Canada. Of the company’s 46-hotel portfolio, 25 are InterContinental Hotels Group brands (Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Select and Holiday Inn Express), 12 are Marriott brands (Marriott, Courtyard by Marriott, SpringHill Suites by Marriott and Residence Inn by Marriott), three are Hilton brands, and four are affiliated with three other nationally recognized franchisors. Two hotels are independent, unbranded properties. For more information about Lodgian, visit the company’s Web site: www.lodgian.com.

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Participating Georgia communities will roll out the red carpet for 37 corporate decision makers from around the world April 9-12, 2008 on the 49th annual Red Carpet Tourâ of Georgia. This year, the Tour will visit the Augusta and Columbus regions.

The 2008 Red Carpet Tourâ will highlight the benefits of locating in Georgia to visiting business leaders. The Tour strives to strengthen relationships previously formed and build new relationships while showcasing Georgia as a great place to do business.

Guests will arrive in Atlanta Wednesday, April 9 and begin their visit with a reception at the host hotel, the Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta, followed by dinner with Governor Sonny Perdue and First Lady Mary Perdue at the Governor’s Mansion.

Thursday, April 10 and Saturday, April 12, guests will travel to Augusta to view the first and third rounds of The Mastersâ, golf’s most storied major championship. Guests will be able to relax both days at the Red Carpet Tourâ hospitality tent on the grounds of Augusta National Golf Club.

On Thursday evening, April 10, guests will travel to Columbus to learn of the many benefits of doing business in west Georgia. Local Columbus business leaders and officials will welcome guests at The Lodge & Spa at Callaway Gardens. Friday morning, guests will hear from Phil Tomlinson, Chairman & CEO of TSYS and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle in a live studio recording of Georgia Public Broadcasting’s “Georgia’s Business.” The program will be hosted by “Georgia’s Business’” own Richard Warner. This will be followed by lunch and recreational activities. An elegant reception and dinner will take place later in the evening at RiverMill in Columbus.

The Georgia Chamber of Commerce sponsors the Tour, in conjunction with the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), Georgia Allies and the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce. Members of the Georgia Allies and other hosts from businesses across Georgia travel with the contingent, serving as liaisons and teaching Tour participants about Georgia.

Robin Spratlin, General Manager of Economic Development for Georgia Power, is the 2008 Red Carpet Tour® State Host Chair. Jay Alexander, President of Alexander Electric Company, is the Chair of the Columbus Region. Richard Fairey, Senior Vice President, Marketing President Community Banking for Wachovia Bank in Augusta and Kline Perry, Sales Manager, East Region for Georgia Power are Co-Chairs of the Metro Augusta Region.

The Georgia Chamber is the grassroots voice of business, vigorously representing its diverse membership in the public policy arena. As it constantly works to protect Georgia’s enviable pro-business environment, the Georgia Chamber remains mindful of its mission to keep the state economically prosperous, educationally competitive and environmentally responsible.

Sunday, April 6, 2008

More than 200 potential vendors have already registered for an all-day seminar on April 11 about how to sell goods and services to Gwinnett County. The second annual Supplier Symposium presented by the purchasing division will help acquaint vendors and suppliers with the County’s procurement procedures.

“Gwinnett County is a $1.5 billion dollar-a-year consumer and the business community is taking note of the opportunities. We are a stable customer for businesses that bid to provide goods or services,” Purchasing Director Scott Callan said.

Beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center Auditorium, the morning session will focus on how to do business with the County. In the afternoon, participants will break into smaller groups for two-hour breakout sessions focusing on construction and capital projects, small business opportunities and forging public-private partnerships.

“Our commitment to the taxpayers of Gwinnett is to spend their money wisely, so we’re working to increase the number of suppliers vying for our business,” Callan said. The symposium will introduce potential suppliers to the County’s buyers and contracting officers and explain the local government’s bidding procedures and requirements. Various metro Atlanta county, city and school agencies will also be in attendance.

“We want to encourage more businesses to bid on our contracts,” Board Chairman Charles Bannister said, “and this symposium helps show them how.”

Registration for the free seminar and current projects open for bidding are available online at www.gwinnettcounty.com

Saturday, April 5, 2008

The Wednesday, Apr. 16 luncheon meeting of the Clayton State University Women’s Forum will feature Marcia Garrison Taylor, CEO of Bennett International Group, as the keynote speaker.

The luncheon, which is open to the public, will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. in room 101 of the Harry S. Downs Center on the Clayton State campus in Morrow.

Taylor is president and chief executive officer of Bennett International Group, a company she acquired with her late husband G.D. Garrison in 1974. For more than 30 years she has overseen the company’s strategic growth into an international transportation and logistics industry leader with six primary business lines. Taylor has developed Bennett and its related entities into a multi-faceted system of innovative transportation related companies involved in such diverse modalities as drive away, manufactured housing, heavy-haul freight, logistics, warehousing, port services, international freight forwarding and transportation related insurance.

In addition to her work at Bennett, Taylor also serves on the Executive Board of the Georgia Motor Trucking Association and has received numerous recognitions for her professional and civic accomplishments, including Entrepreneur of the Year (Venture Magazine) and industry of the Year (Henry County Chamber of Commerce). Bennett was most recently named the #1 Woman-Owned Business on the Top 25 Woman-Owned Business List of the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

The cost of the luncheon in $12. Please R.S.V.P. to Terri Taylor-Hamrick at (678) 466-4475 or territaylor-hamrick@clayton.edu. The Women’s Forum always welcomes walk-ups, but may only be able to accommodate those without reservations on a space available basis given the advance guarantee and seats available upon arrival.

A unit of the University System of Georgia, Clayton State University is an outstanding metropolitan university located 15 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

SMC³, the experts in LTL transportation pricing, announce their 2008 Fundamentals of LTL Transportation seminar, which will provide a focused examination of how less-than-truckload (LTL) motor carriers and their supply chain partners have adapted to the demands of a competitive marketplace and global trade. Through both classroom and field trip experiences, attendees will explore the fundamentals of LTL operating practices, rate structures and transportation pricing dynamics. In addition, the seminar focuses on the role of technology in exchanging vital information between supply chain business partners.

The Fundamentals of LTL seminar will take place May 22-23 at the Hilton Lisle Hotel in Chicago. This seminar will be beneficial for all individuals newly involved in preparing, executing and managing LTL transportation relationships including freight analysts, account and customer support personnel, supervisors and managers, business development and technology providers, and transportation sales personnel from all modes.

“Successfully managing LTL transportation requires an understanding of core concepts and how to use them effectively throughout the business strategy. Attendees will return to their companies with an increased understanding of how to improve supply chain performance and reduce costs,” said seminar presenter Danny Slaton, senior vice president of business development and subject matter expert, SMC³.

Sessions focus on the background and history of the LTL motor carrier industry, the roles and interactions of shippers, carriers and 3PLs, and how shippers and 3PLs are working with carriers to conduct successful freight bids. In addition, attendees will participate in a site visit to a leading national carrier’s Chicago terminal to observe first hand how shipments move through a modern LTL terminal operation – from pick-up through delivery. To close the seminar a special Supply Chain Panel Q&A session will be held, featuring the entire speaking faculty prepared to answer attendee questions on a full range of LTL and supply chain topics.

To register for the SMC³ 2008 Fundamentals of LTL Transportation seminar or for more information on SMC³’s products, services and educational offerings, visit www.smc3.com or call 800-845-8090.

Our briefcase is packed and overflowing with Georgia business news. We've decided to pass some of the news on to you rather than try to cram one more thing into the bulging satchel. Interesting news releases, tidbits of information and hopefully some commentary that will entice you to subscribe!

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